Ben Gvir taunts activists as Italy summons Israel's ambassador
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy summoned Israel’s ambassador on Wednesday after ben gvir taunted detained Gaza flotilla activists in a video posted on social media. The activists were shown kneeling on the floor with their hands tied, and at least 87 of those taken from the flotilla began a hunger strike the same day.
Meloni calls treatment unacceptable
Meloni said, “The images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that these protesters, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates their human dignity,” after the video circulated. Her government’s diplomatic move followed the public taunt, not the interception itself, and it put the treatment of detainees at the center of Italy’s response.
The flotilla was headed for Gaza with the stated aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Global Sumud Flotilla said the hunger strike was in protest of their “illegal abduction and in solidarity with the over 9,500 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli dungeons.”
Israel says 430 were transferred
Israeli forces began overtaking the vessels in international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Monday. By late Tuesday, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives.” The ministry also called the effort “nothing more than a PR stunt.”
The numbers in the detention list now stretch across several countries. About 15 Irish citizens were among those being held, including Margaret Connolly, a doctor and the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly. Nine Indonesian citizens were also among the prisoners, according to a spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said South Korean citizens were among those taken by Israeli naval forces.
Italy and South Korea react
Lee called Israel’s actions “way out of line” on Wednesday and asked, “What is the legal basis? Is it Israeli territorial waters? Is that Israeli land? If there is conflict, can they seize and detain third-country vessels?” His remarks joined Meloni’s sharper diplomatic response and widened the dispute beyond the activists themselves.
The friction now sits between the public treatment of detainees and Israel’s account of the flotilla operation. The Global Sumud Flotilla said late on Tuesday that Israeli forces kidnapped six people on board the Lina al-Nabulsi boat, while Israel said all 430 activists were already moving toward Israel for consular meetings. The next step in this story is whether those consular contacts and the hunger strike alter how Italy, Ireland, South Korea, and other governments press their cases.
